Infrared to Visible Light Upconversion by Nanostructures Confined in Microporous Alumina

In response to the DARPA need for a new innovative technology for films to upconvert infrared radiation to visible light, POC is developing a new advanced thin-film Infrared to Visible light Upconversion by Nanostructures (IRVUN) system, based on nanostructured semiconductor particles confined in nanoporous alumina material. In Phase I POC has fabricated IRVUN and measured its light conversion efficiency at 5% for 1.55 micron radiation to visible light, built a theoretical model of the IRVUN upconversion structure. We also defined major parameters of the material layers, including the maximum achievable quantum efficiency, 7-15%, depending on the infrared wavelength; and the optimal metal thickness, 10 nm, at which maximum conversion efficiency is reached. Based on this model we have determined IRVUN sensitivity and its radiometric resolution (2 10^-7 W/cm^2), its spatial resolution (of 20 mm^-1 with the technical path defined to increase it to 100 mm^-1), temporal resolution of 0.1 ms and transmissivity in the visible range of 70%. In Phase II POC will develop the materials and methods identified in Phase I and demonstrate a proof-of-concept lenspiece incorporating the IRVUN.